Deschutes/Boulevard collaboration

The news came out yesterday that Deschutes Brewery and Boulevard Brewing Company will be brewing a collaboration beer; I posted the press release which has the details, but the gist is that they’ll be working together on a “White IPA” (a counterpoint to all those Black IPAs?): it “combines Boulevard’s expertise in making Belgian-style witbiers with Deschutes’ mastery in brewing hop-forward ales.”

So it’s either a Belgian Wit brewed with IPA-level hopping, or (as Deschutes has on tap right now) an IPA brewed with a Belgian Wit yeast. (I don’t know if this already-brewed version is an experimental beer to prep for the collaboration, or if the collaboration came about after brewing the beer.)

It’s the second collaboration brew for each brewery, and should be interesting:

Despite both beers being characterized as White I.P.A.s, there will be differences in packaging and in how they will ultimately taste. Brewed at their Bend, Oregon facility, Deschutes’ version will be the second beer in their new Conflux collaboration series and will be distributed throughout their 18-state region in kegs and 22-ounce bottles. Their first collaboration, brewed with Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, is still aging in wood barrels.

Boulevard’s version, christened Collaboration No. 2, will be distributed throughout their 20-state region as part of the Smokestack Series seasonal lineup in kegs and 750ml bottles. The brewery’s first collaboration, a partnership with distinguished Belgian brewer Jean-Marie Rock, was released in January of 2010.